Container stacker, stabilizer and aligner

ABSTRACT

A device that is used for the stacking and orientation of handled containers that become unstable after being stacked one upon another. The device includes a platform that is equal or greater in size to the container, with a perpendicular projection located at the back of the base that rises to the approximate height of a plurality of containers. The frame acts like a spine for the containers by aligning the containers vertically and limiting their movement from side to side. The platform may include a plurality of projections that surround the container or containers, that also offer stability.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the storage and display of containersand more particularly to, but not limited to, the storage and display ofpaint cans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The storage and display of a containers, especially paint, at home or ina store, is a small undertaking. The way it is normally done at home isto throw it on the shelf in the garage and when the shelf is filled, yougo out and buy a set of free standing shelves, and start stackingcontainers on the bottom. When it comes time to paint again, you gosearching all the places, that you have stored paint. You find that thelabels on the high shelf are facing the wrong way, and the containers infront on the low shelf are obscuring the view of the labels on thecontainers in back. The lost shelf space to containers that you can'treadily identify is incredible.

The same problem exists in a store because the displays take up alot ofroom. They are usually boxes of paint with their tops sliced off,stacked about six high, or stacking plates, put between the layers ofloosely stacked cans also stacked about six high. This also is aterrible waste of floor space.

The solution up until now seems to be making surfaces that will allowthe containers to mate together. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,540 Lairddescribes a can stacking insert to make can surfaces mate together forstacking purposes. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,899 Apps and Lang describe atray system for stacking cans. When it comes to the larger containers,the floor space that is needed for trays is outside the scope of thehomeowner. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,818 Schenkman describes what he callsthe can stacker which is another form of a mating surface for two cans.In U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,526 Keyfauver describes a lid that will mate twosimilar type containers, the only problem is you have to keep swappinglids on all your containers to get them to stack.

The idea behind the invention is to give similar containers, somethingto lean against instead of depending on the container below. The weightis being exerted downward like a normal stack of similar containers butthe stability is gained from the spine or the vertical projection,stabilizing the container. The projection limits lateral movement sothat if you stack your containers with the labels forward, they willremain facing forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the front perspective of the invention with no containerspresent

FIG. 2 shows the invention with three containers in place, misaligned.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the invention with the containers in placewith their handles extended over the rear projection.

FIG. 4 shows the invention from the rear, with the containers misalignedand the handles are over the projection closest to the cut out section.

FIG. 5 a shows the invention stacked vertically three high from thefront.

FIG. 5 b shows the invention stacked three high from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the basic design of the base 2 with a perpendicularprojection rising from the base 1 that is used as a spine to align thecontainers. A projected surface 3 is shown to provide stability to thebottom container but can be extended for a plurality of containers. Acut out section, to the base 4 allows for stacking purposes duringshipping.

FIG. 2 shows the basic design with misaligned containers 7, 5, 8,stacked against the projection 1 while sitting on the base 2 and inbetween the projected surface on the base 3 for additional stability.These projections 3 are mounted outside the circumference of thecontainer 7 to the base plate. The containers 7, 5, 8, are deliberatelymisaligned, yet in practice they remain stacked and stable.

FIG. 3 shows the basic design from the side with the containers stackedvertically on the base 2 with their handles 6 extended over the rearprojection 1 and their labels facing forward for display purposes.

FIG. 4 shows the basic design from the rear with the containers stackedvertically on the base 2 inside the projections 3 and their handlesextended over the rear projection 1 to

FIG. 5 a shows the basic design of three stacked units from the frontfor shipping and display purposes.

FIG. 5 b shows the basic design of three stacked units from above.

I. A method of providing stacking stability, to handled containers thatare similar but do not stack together well comprising: a. a base that issized approximately, to the bottom of said containers to be stacked, andb. a perpendicular projection mounted in a predetermined location onsaid base, that is of a predetermined size, and to a height ofapproximately a plurality of containers II. The base in claim I, with asection removed behind said vertical projection, with a predeterminedcross-sectional shape. III. The base in claim I, with a projected areathat rises on opposing sides of said base that are of a predeterminedsize and shape. IV. The perpendicular projection in claim I., that issized to be inserted between said handle and said container when saidcontainer is being placed on the base and said handle is horizontallyextended. V. The base in claim I, with a section removed behind saidvertical projection of a predetermined size to engage with said verticalprojections of another base for shipping and display purposes. VI. Theperpendicular projection in claim I. that is sized to limit lateralmovement of said containers for stacking and display purposes.